Staff UX Research Strategist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff UX Research Strategist

Company: Jobgether (Partner Company)

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience Research / Product Strategy

Date Posted: 2026-09-17

Experience Level: 7-10 Years

Remote Status: Remote (US-based candidates only)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end foundational and generative research initiatives to uncover unmet user needs and translate them into actionable product and business opportunities.

• Apply rigorous market research methodologies to inform product strategy, including ideal customer profile (ICP) definition, segmentation, value proposition development, and product-market fit assessment.

• Develop and articulate a forward-looking perspective on market and industry trends, identifying competitive shifts, regulatory developments, and broader tailwinds influencing strategic priorities.

• Act as a strategic thought partner to Product and Design leadership, leveraging evidence-based insights to influence high-stakes product and business strategy discussions.

• Co-own a strategic insights function, synthesizing signals from across the business and external market to provide leadership with an early view of emerging opportunities and risks.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role blends deep UX research with broader market and strategic analysis, requiring a researcher who can connect user needs with business objectives and market dynamics. The emphasis on "forward-looking, generative research" and "strategic opportunities" suggests a proactive, high-impact role focused on shaping future product direction. The mention of AI integration indicates a forward-thinking approach to research operations and scalability.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead end-to-end foundational and generative research across new and emerging product areas, with a focus on uncovering unmet user needs and translating them into meaningful product and business opportunities.

• Conduct comprehensive market research, including assessing ideal customer profiles, segmentation, value propositions, product-market fit, market sizing, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities to inform product strategy.

• Develop a proactive, forward-looking perspective on market and industry trends, identifying competitive shifts, regulatory developments, and broader tailwinds that could influence strategic priorities.

• Evaluate competing opportunities and build clear, evidence-based recommendations for investment, explicitly articulating assumptions, risks, potential upside, and opportunity costs.

• Co-own a strategic insights function in partnership with Product Analytics, synthesizing signals from across the business and external market to provide leadership with an early view of emerging opportunities and risks.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to Product and Design leadership, challenging assumptions, introducing evidence, and influencing high-stakes product and business strategy discussions.

• Collaborate with Vertical Solutions teams to deepen understanding of priority industries, support research initiatives, and identify opportunities specific to different market segments.

• Partner with Marketing, Sales, and Client Services to translate research and market insights into go-to-market strategies, positioning, and product launch approaches.

• Coach and develop UX Research colleagues in strategic foresight and market research methodologies, helping establish shared playbooks and stronger research capabilities across the team.

• Thoughtfully apply AI tools throughout the research workflow for activities such as synthesis, analysis, recruiting, and documentation, while maintaining appropriate human judgment and research rigor.

• Identify and implement improvements to research tools, processes, and workflows, leveraging AI and automation where appropriate to create scalable approaches that improve research quality and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic leadership component, including coaching junior researchers and improving research operations through AI. The breadth of collaboration across Product, Design, Analytics, Marketing, Sales, and Client Services underscores the cross-functional nature of this role and its influence on various business functions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Specific educational requirements are not detailed, but a strong foundation in research methodologies (UX, market, social sciences, psychology, etc.) is implied.

Experience: 7–10 years of applied research experience is required.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record of leading end-to-end foundational and generative research projects.

• Demonstrated experience spanning both UX research and market research, including qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

• Expertise in opportunity assessment, market sizing, ICP definition, segmentation, value proposition development, product-market fit, and competitive research.

• Domain expertise in digital advertising, adtech, martech, data-driven platforms, or privacy-sensitive B2B technology markets.

• Strong systems thinking abilities to connect user, market, and business perspectives, especially in ambiguous problem spaces.

• Experience influencing senior leaders (Directors, VPs, C-suite) through compelling strategic narratives and evidence-based business cases.

• Ability to partner effectively with analytics and data teams to combine quantitative signals with qualitative research.

• Experience facilitating workshops (e.g., ideation, co-creation) and driving research findings into concrete product and strategic decisions.

• Hands-on experience incorporating AI tools into research workflows, with a focus on developing scalable approaches for synthesis, analysis, recruiting, or other research stages. Preferred Skills:

• Experience researching AI-powered products or features.

• Experience working within B2B or platform environments.

• Experience in coaching and developing other researchers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating influence on strategy, rather than just validation, is a critical qualification. The specific domain expertise required points towards a company operating within the digital advertising or B2B tech space, likely dealing with complex data and platform ecosystems.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is essential, demonstrating how your research has identified new opportunities and influenced product or business strategy, rather than solely validating pre-existing decisions.

• Showcase end-to-end research projects, from initial problem definition and strategic framing through to the delivery of actionable insights and their impact on business outcomes.

• Include examples of how you have applied both UX research and market research methodologies to solve complex problems.

• Present case studies that highlight your ability to assess market dynamics, define target audiences, articulate value propositions, and validate product-market fit.

• Demonstrate instances where your research directly influenced strategic investment decisions, go-to-market strategies, or product roadmap prioritization. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have developed and documented research processes, particularly for generative and strategic foresight initiatives.

• Showcase experience in establishing and refining research operations, including the implementation of new tools, methodologies, or workflows, with a focus on scalability and efficiency.

• Illustrate how you have integrated AI tools into your research processes to enhance synthesis, analysis, or other research stages, demonstrating an understanding of AI's role in modern research operations.

• Document instances where you have coached or mentored colleagues on research best practices, process improvements, or the application of strategic research techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirement is heavily weighted towards strategic impact and influencing decisions, which is key for senior-level operations roles. Demonstrating the application and optimization of research processes, especially with AI integration, will be crucial for showcasing operational efficiency and strategic foresight.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $156,000 – $214,500 USD per year (United States base salary).

• Final compensation will be determined by factors including experience, technical skills, knowledge, abilities, education, certifications, organizational needs, and budget alignment. Benefits:

• Annual bonuses, commissions, and equity awards may be offered.

• Comprehensive health benefits package beginning on the first day of employment.

• Access to mental health care and wellness support programs.

• Retirement savings and 401(k) or pension programs (location-dependent).

• Competitive paid time off packages, including birthday time off.

• Work-from-home reimbursement.

• Optional global WeWork membership and access to workplace hubs.

• Robust training and onboarding programs.

• Support for professional development, including conferences, courses, and books.

• Access to programmatic courses and certifications for continuous learning.

• Parental leave programs.

• Friendly, collaborative, and supportive working environment.

• Social and team events to encourage organizational connection.

• Benefits and perks may vary based on country of employment and engagement nature.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard 40-hour work week, typical for full-time positions, with flexibility inherent in a remote-first environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Staff-level position in the US. The extensive list of benefits, including professional development support and remote work stipends, indicates a strong focus on employee well-being and growth, which is attractive to operations professionals seeking a supportive work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The domain expertise required (digital advertising, adtech, martech, data-driven platforms, privacy-sensitive B2B technology) strongly suggests the company operates within the technology sector, specifically in areas related to marketing technology, advertising technology, or business intelligence platforms. The mention of "Jobgether" and its AI-powered matching process indicates a company focused on leveraging technology to improve recruitment or talent acquisition processes.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the nature of the role (Staff level, strategic impact, cross-functional collaboration) and the partner company model suggest a mid-to-large sized organization or a rapidly growing startup that requires specialized strategic functions. The "remote-first working environment" also points to a modern, distributed organizational structure.

Founded: The founding date is not provided. However, the company's use of AI in its matching process suggests a relatively modern approach to business operations and technology adoption.

Team Structure:

• The UX Research team likely includes other researchers, with this role acting as a senior individual contributor or strategist.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management, Product Design, Product Analytics, Marketing, Sales, and Client Services teams.

• This role will partner with Product Analytics to co-own a strategic insights function, indicating a strong data-informed culture.

• There's an expectation to coach and develop junior UX Research colleagues. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making: Emphasis on evidence-based recommendations and synthesizing signals from across the business and external markets.

• Strategic foresight: Focus on identifying emerging needs, competitive shifts, and future opportunities.

• Cross-functional collaboration: Working closely with diverse teams to integrate insights into product and business strategy.

• AI-augmented research: Thoughtful application of AI tools to enhance research efficiency and scalability.

Company Website: [Jobgether's website, and potentially the partner company's website, though not specified]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be modern, tech-forward, and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on data and strategic impact. The partner company model suggests that Jobgether facilitates talent acquisition for other businesses, and this role is within one of those partner companies. The focus on AI integration is a significant cultural indicator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Staff-level position, indicating a senior individual contributor role. It requires deep expertise, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence across multiple functions and senior leadership. It's a step beyond a Senior Researcher, focusing on shaping the strategic direction of product development and business growth through research.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Staff UX Research Strategist typically reports into a Director or VP of Product, Design, Research, or Strategy. They would work closely with product leadership and analytics teams.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on:

• Product Strategy: Identifying new product opportunities, defining market fit, and guiding roadmap prioritization.

• Business Strategy: Informing investment decisions, market entry strategies, and competitive positioning.

• Revenue Growth: By ensuring products meet market needs and are strategically positioned for success.

• Operational Efficiency: Through optimizing research processes and leveraging AI for scalability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Strategic Insights: Opportunity to build and lead a strategic insights function within the organization.

• Mentorship and Coaching: Develop leadership skills by coaching and mentoring other UX researchers.

• Cross-functional Influence: Deepen relationships and influence across Product, Design, Marketing, Sales, and Client Services.

• Specialization in AI Research: Become a go-to expert for leveraging AI in research operations and product development.

• Advancement to Principal/Director Level: Potential to move into Principal Researcher roles or management positions overseeing research teams and strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for a seasoned researcher to move beyond traditional UX research into a more strategic, business-impacting position. The emphasis on influencing senior leadership and shaping future direction is a key aspect of career growth here.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is described as "remote-first working environment," with candidates located in the United States. This suggests a distributed team model where physical office presence is not required for day-to-day work.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote within the US, the company may have physical office locations or "workplace hubs" accessible via a global WeWork membership. These hubs would provide co-working spaces and networking opportunities.

Workspace Context:

• Flexibility and Autonomy: As a remote role, it offers significant flexibility in terms of work location and potentially work hours, aligning with modern work-life balance expectations.

• Technology-Enabled Collaboration: Expectation of using various digital collaboration tools (e.g., video conferencing, shared documents, project management software) to stay connected with remote colleagues.

• Access to Resources: Potential access to WeWork spaces for those who prefer a co-working environment or need occasional meeting facilities.

• Data-Rich Environment: Collaboration with Product Analytics suggests a strong emphasis on data and potentially access to robust analytics platforms and tools.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule (implied 40 hours/week) is expected, with the flexibility to manage work hours around core collaboration times due to the remote nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature is a significant draw for operations professionals seeking flexibility. The availability of WeWork memberships suggests an effort to foster connection and provide workspace options for a distributed workforce.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: (Assumed based on typical Staff-level/strategic roles)

• Initial Screening: Application and resume review, potentially with an AI-powered matching system as described by Jobgether.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on experience, strategic thinking, research approach, and alignment with the role's core responsibilities. This is where your portfolio will likely be introduced.

• Portfolio Review & Case Study: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, showcasing specific examples of strategic research impact, market analysis, and how you've influenced product/business decisions. This may involve a pre-prepared case study or a live discussion of past work.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders (e.g., Product Leads, Design Leads, Analytics partners) to assess collaboration style, strategic influence, and domain expertise.

• Leadership Interview: Final discussion with senior leadership (e.g., VP of Product/Design) to assess strategic vision, leadership potential, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your research approach, the key insights, and most importantly, the tangible impact your research had on product strategy, business decisions, or market outcomes. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in conversion," "informed a $X million investment decision").

• Strategic Framing: Demonstrate how you framed research problems strategically, connecting user needs to broader market opportunities and business objectives.

• Methodological Breadth: Showcase your ability to apply a range of UX and market research methods, explaining why you chose specific methods for specific problems.

• AI Integration: Be prepared to discuss how you've used AI tools in your research workflow, highlighting specific examples of efficiency gains or enhanced insights.

• Narrative Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentation as a compelling narrative, guiding the interviewer through your thought process and the journey from problem to solution and impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Case Study: Prepare a detailed case study that exemplifies your ability to conduct generative research, assess market opportunities, and influence strategic direction. This should highlight your systems thinking and ability to connect user needs, market trends, and business goals.

• AI in Research: Be ready to discuss your perspective on the role of AI in UX research and market research, including its benefits, limitations, and practical applications in your workflow.

• Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you have effectively partnered with and influenced senior stakeholders from different departments (Product, Design, Marketing, Sales).

• Ambiguity Navigation: Think about how you approach loosely defined problems and ambiguous spaces, demonstrating your ability to bring structure and clarity through research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes strategic impact and collaborative influence. A well-curated portfolio that clearly demonstrates measurable business outcomes driven by research is paramount. The integration of AI into research operations is a key differentiator.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Research Platforms: Tools for user interviews, surveys, usability testing, and potentially unmoderated testing (e.g., UserTesting, Lookback, Maze, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Collaboration & Documentation: Tools like Slack, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Confluence, Miro, Figma for communication, documentation, and collaborative synthesis.

• AI Tools: Specific AI tools for research synthesis, analysis, transcription, recruiting, or content generation are highly valued. Examples might include tools for summarizing large datasets, identifying themes in qualitative data, or generating initial research reports.

• Analytics & Data Visualization: Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) and BI tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) for synthesizing quantitative data with qualitative insights.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics for understanding user behavior and product performance.

• Data Warehousing/Databases: Basic understanding of data structures and how to query data (e.g., SQL) might be beneficial for partnering with analytics teams.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience creating or interpreting dashboards to track key metrics and communicate research findings.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with CRM platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar, particularly in understanding customer data and sales/marketing processes, would be advantageous for understanding B2B contexts.

• Automation Tools: Experience with workflow automation tools (e.g., Zapier, Make) could be relevant if the role involves optimizing research operations through automation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with a range of research tools, coupled with a demonstrated ability to leverage AI for research efficiency and scalability, will be critical. The ability to connect research insights with product analytics and CRM data is also important for demonstrating business impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A core value, emphasizing the use of evidence from research and analytics to inform strategy and product development.

• User-Centricity: Deep commitment to understanding and advocating for user needs, translating them into valuable product experiences.

• Strategic Impact: Focus on research that drives significant business outcomes, shapes future direction, and influences high-stakes decisions.

• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: Encouraging exploration of new opportunities, market trends, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong working relationships across diverse teams to ensure integrated insights and cohesive strategies.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Striving for optimized research processes, leveraging tools and automation to maximize impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive and Consultative: Acting as a strategic partner, proactively bringing insights and challenging assumptions rather than waiting for requests.

• Cross-functional Integration: Working seamlessly with Product, Design, Analytics, Marketing, and Sales to embed research into all stages of product and business strategy development.

• Evidence-Based Communication: Clearly articulating findings and recommendations with supporting data and research evidence.

• Workshop Facilitation: Leading collaborative sessions to drive alignment, ideation, and co-creation with various stakeholders.

• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: Fostering a learning environment by sharing expertise and coaching colleagues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes strategic impact, data-driven insights, and collaborative problem-solving. The integration of AI reflects a commitment to innovation and operational efficiency within the research function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in undefined problem spaces and translating broad strategic questions into researchable opportunities.

• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex research findings and strategic recommendations to gain buy-in from C-suite and VP-level leaders.

• Integrating AI Responsibly: Thoughtfully applying AI tools while maintaining research rigor, ethical considerations, and ensuring human judgment remains central.

• Balancing Generative and Evaluative Research: Managing the strategic demands of generative research with the need for evaluative research to validate product decisions.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent understanding and application of insights across diverse teams with varying priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Strategic Foresight Skills: Continuous learning in market analysis, trend forecasting, and competitive intelligence.

• Master AI in Research: Become an expert in leveraging AI for advanced research synthesis, predictive analysis, and operational automation.

• Develop Leadership & Coaching: Enhance skills in mentoring, team development, and strategic guidance for junior researchers.

• Expand Domain Expertise: Further immerse in the intricacies of adtech, martech, or B2B technology markets.

• Influence Business Strategy: Gain experience shaping major product and business initiatives at a strategic level.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges related to strategic influence and integrating new technologies like AI, offering substantial growth opportunities for a researcher looking to move into a more impactful, strategic position.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used generative research to identify a completely new product opportunity. How did you validate its potential and influence the product roadmap?" (Focus on strategic foresight, opportunity identification, and impact.)

• "How do you approach assessing product-market fit for a new offering in a competitive market? Walk us through your process, including market research and user research components." (Focus on market research rigor, methodology, and strategic assessment.)

• "Tell us about a complex, ambiguous problem you were given. How did you break it down, apply systems thinking, and use research to drive clarity and strategic direction?" (Focus on problem-solving, systems thinking, and research strategy.)

• "How have you leveraged AI tools in your research workflow? Provide a specific example of how AI enhanced your process or delivered novel insights." (Focus on practical AI application and research operations efficiency.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about our company and this specific role at the Staff UX Research Strategist level?" (Demonstrate research into the company, its industry, and alignment with your career goals.)

• "How do you ensure your research findings resonate with and influence senior leadership, such as VPs or C-suite executives?" (Focus on communication, influence, and business case development.)

• "Describe your experience partnering with product analytics teams. How do you integrate quantitative data with qualitative insights to form a comprehensive strategic view?" (Focus on collaboration and data synthesis.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Strategic Approach (Research Design) -> Key Findings & Insights -> Strategic Recommendations -> Business/Product Impact (Quantified if possible).

• Highlight Strategic Influence: Emphasize instances where your research directly shaped strategy, led to new product initiatives, or informed significant investment decisions.

• Showcase Methodological Breadth: Briefly explain why specific qualitative and quantitative methods were chosen to address the strategic questions.

• Articulate Systems Thinking: Explain how you connected user needs, market dynamics, and business goals in your analysis.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: Be ready to discuss how AI tools were used in your process and the value they provided.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, alternative approaches, and the ROI of your research.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing strategic impact, methodological breadth, effective stakeholder influence, and innovative use of AI in research operations. A well-prepared portfolio is crucial for demonstrating these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Jobgether platform.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience in strategic research, market analysis, generative research, and influencing business strategy. Emphasize any projects where you identified new opportunities or significantly impacted product/business direction.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7-10 years of experience, specific skills in UX and market research, domain expertise, and successes in influencing senior leadership. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Prepare specific case studies from your portfolio that demonstrate your strategic impact and AI integration.

• Company Research: If possible, research the partner company to understand their specific market, products, and strategic challenges. Understand how Jobgether's AI-powered matching process works and its role in the application journey.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.